International Agricultural Development Major

International Agricultural Development Major

The images became familiar to Americans in the 1980s and persist to this day: photographs of emaciated, wide-eyed children in refugee camps, slums of sprawling cities, isolated rural communities. Concerned citizens wonder why industrialized nations enjoy such abundance while developing countries often lack the resources to meet people's most basic needs. The major in international agricultural development seeks to prepare students to help address these problems of inequality and want. You'll learn to work directly with less technologically advanced countries to improve their food production, distribution and nutrition programs. This is a major for those who truly wish to make a difference in other people's lives.

Real World Outcomes:

Some international agricultural development majors choose to serve in the Peace Corps after graduation. Others seek employment in international trade, while others choose to work for governmental or private agencies in foreign nations. Religious groups and organizations also employ graduates for agricultural work in conjunction with missions and human service work overseas.

Requirements:

Depending on your personal interests and goals, you may choose one of two core tracks in the program. The social sciences core gives you a background in the social and cultural roots of hunger and poverty and prepares you to work with agencies and missions seeking to help hungry people. The natural sciences core prepares you to help make technological improvements to food production and distribution systems in less developed countries. At the upper division level, you'll further refine your specialization by taking courses to support your goals in agricultural production, economic development, environmental issues, rural communities or trade and development in agricultural commodities.